National Consultant: Field Officer, Bandarban, UNFPA Bangladesh

The Position:

UNFPA’s Tenth Country Programme (2022-2027) in Bangladesh is targeting 10 districts for sub-national level capacity development and system strengthening in four programme areas: 1) sexual and reproductive health, 2) adolescent and youth, 3) gender equality and women’s empowerment, and 4) population dynamics. The 10 districts include: Patuakhali, Barguna, Bagerhat, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Sirajganj, Dhaka, Noakhali, Bandarban, and Cox’s Bazar. The Field Officer will be responsible for strengthening sub-national capacities in the district to realize national development priorities related to the ICPD Programme of Action and Beijing Platform for Action, as well as creating and maintaining UNFPA’s partnerships and supporting national systems at the local level. Under the supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit with matrix supervision with the Deputy Representative, the Field Officer will be contributing to the effectiveness and efficiency of the Tenth Country Programme by: 1) enhancing programme effectiveness through quality assurance, data gathering and analysis, monitoring and results reporting; 2) enhancing UNFPA’s capability of responding to local development and/or humanitarian needs and addressing gaps in a timely, efficient and effective manner; 3) improving the mobilization of resources, either domestic or external; 4) increasing adaptability through innovation, partnership and communications; and 5) consolidating the visibility of UNFPA´s comparative advantage and technical excellence at the sub-national level, and 6) facilitating smooth implementation and tracking of results for the 10th CP (Country Programme) commitments to ensure accountability. While the Field Officer will be responsible for technical assistance, monitoring, supervision, and humanitarian response programme implementation at the sub-national level in all four programme areas (as per approved CPD) and Humanitarian Response in the district, their primary focus lies in advocating for and supporting maternal and newborn health system strengthening and provision of adolescent, sexual and reproductive health information and services, including SRHR morbidities in districts. The Field Officer monitors and supports the respective districts with local-level planning, budgeting, forecasting, and human resource management, including support to scale-up of midwifery-led care sites, supervision, as well as monitoring the procurement, distribution, and cold chain of critical SRHR commodities, improving voice and accountability by facilitating stronger community participation and improving health information management, data quality audits, and processes that enable quality maternal and newborn health, SRHR morbidities (obstetric fistula, uterine prolapse, incontinence, and perinatal mental health) related services, including family planning and coordinated district-level SRHR, child, early & forced marriage (CEFM) and GBV prevention programme in Bandarban district. In addition, the Field Officer will also maintain active coordination with Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) sub-national governance bodies, including the Bandarban Hill District Council, and local civil society organizations to ensure culturally responsive programme implementation.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Job Purpose:

3.1. Results Based Programme Management:

● Collect and analyze sub-national (district, upazila and union level) data relevant to UNFPA’s programme areas

● Contribute to the CO management with the development of appropriate field-oriented briefing notes and updates on themes and priorities on UNFPA’s mandate

● Document and generate knowledge and good practices, for scaling up successful interventions and for policy dialogue and advocacy purposes, as well as re-adjusting interventions

● Undertake regular environmental scanning at the sub-national level to support the CO

● Support the CO M&E Unit by provision of data and primary analysis of sub-national data on monthly and/or quarterly basis

● Support the CO with donor reporting with field level inputs

● Explore local level opportunities for innovative approaches to deliver on results and identify opportunities to generate new evidence

● Contribute to the CO substantively in the development of funding proposals by consolidating field level inputs

3.2. District level advocacy and liaison

● Strategically position UNFPA and the ICPD agenda, as they relate to local governance and decentralization processes, at the sub-national level based on emerging trends, to help mobilize local political and public support for ICPD and UNFPA operations

● Build and maintain relationships with Divisional Commissioners, District Commissioners, Civil Surgeons, Family planning Deputy Directors, Officials from the Ministry of Education and other division and district level key local government officials and representatives, for policy advocacy and capacity development

● Identify UN, donors, multi and bilateral development partners, NGOs/CSOs, academia, think tanks and individual experts that are operating in the respective Division and Target Districts and build/maintain communications and relationship, to help advocate for and strengthen the achievement of 10CP (10th Country Programme) and International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD PoA) goals and the SDGs

● Identify ‘left behind’ populations, determine needs and advocate for more equitable distribution of local resources

● At request by the CO management and respective units, participate in the sub-national level events, meetings, workshops, trainings, etc.

● Actively contribute to the CO in increasing UNFPA visibility and transparency, by providing materials and information that are readily usable for both internal and external communication channels, both national/local and international.

3.3. Programme Implementation Support in districts:

● Carry out the sub-national level activities as per the 10CP Implementation Plan 2022-2027 in the respective target districts that fall under the office.

● Monitor implementation of activities in districts by all Implementing Partners

● Provide oversight and capacity development, technical support to the respective division and districts in the planning, implementation, monitoring and results reporting, of the programme.

● Review, identify, problem solve and communicate sub-national bottlenecks including management and coordination issues and capacity gaps that hamper the appropriate implementation of UNFPA programming, policies and strategies in SRHR, child, early & forced marriage (CEFM) and GBV prevention programme.

● Maximize the synergies of UNFPA’s different programme outcomes in a given division and target district

● Maintain regular reporting to and consultation with the CO in Dhaka on program/project implementation, monitoring (programme and finance) and office management

● Provide technical support in roll-out of humanitarian SOP, emergency preparedness, and response to humanitarian crises such as natural disasters and for refugees, including needs assessments, local-level cluster coordination, distribution of emergency reproductive health kits and dignity kits, mobile camps, operationalisation of women-friendly spaces and community watch groups, capacity development of service providers, etc.

● Receive and facilitate the mission and site visit by the representatives of the donors that support UNFPA programmes/projects

● Ensure all actions among field staff and with external stakeholders are executed with integrity and in accordance with UNFPA ethics policies, thus reflecting a culture of respect, transparency and accountability

● Identify and work closely with community groups and improve their participation in decentralized decision-making processes for the programme.

3.4. Other tasks

● Assist the CO in ensuring that the Decentralization Office’s infrastructure, assets and facilities meet requirements for conducting business efficiently and effectively

● Contribute to the CO with security risk management, also by providing local intelligence

● Perform any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor and HoA

Duration and working schedule: The consultancy will initially be for 11 months from the commencement of the contract.

Place where services are to be delivered: Bandarban district Office location: Civil Surgeon Office

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered ( e.g. All of the tasks and activities outlined in the ToR are needed to be delivered within the contract period. The consultant will submit electronic copies of all the deliverables to the unit. Page 3 of 5 electronic, hard

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline: Progress will be monitored on a monthly basis, sharing electronic updates against terms of reference and deliverables.

Supervisory arrangements: The Field Officer will work under the direct supervision of the M&E Specialist with matrix supervision and strategic guidance from the Deputy Representative. Day-to-day technical coordination will be maintained with respective country office program units (SRHR, Gender, A&Y, and Humanitarian Response). Progress will be evaluated monthly upon submission of electronic activity reports, alongside midterm and final performance reviews.

Expected travel: The position requires extensive field travel across upazilas within Bandarban District (including hard-to-reach areas such as Ruma, Thanchi, Rowangchhari, and Lama etc.) for facility monitoring, supervision, data verification, and stakeholder meetings and humanitarian response coordination in nearby districts. Occasional travel to the UNFPA Country Office in Dhaka may be required. Official travel allowances (DSA and local travel) will be reimbursed in accordance with standard UNFPA travel rules.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:
Master degree in Public Health, Global Health, development studies, gender studies, Social sciences or other related fields.

Knowledge and Experience:

● Minimum of 3 years of professional experience, preferably in program/project management in the public or private sector; a clinical background would be an advantage.

● Practical field experience in the development field, including health, gender, and youth development and humanitarian response.

● Demonstrated experience in coordination and liaison with government counterparts and other stakeholders, including NGOs and communities.

● Fluency in speaking, writing, and reading both in English and Bangla is required.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable: The consultant will be responsible for arranging his/her own computer and other working aid equipment. UNFPA will provide official email credentials, access to relevant corporate data tools (e.g., DHIS2 / CPD monitoring systems), orientation materials, and logistical arrangements for approved official field monitoring missions within the distric

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any: Payment Instructions: The consultant will be paid every month subject to submission of his/her monthly report.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.